he
morning, the events of the day seldom harmonize him. Let you walk out
in a city, feeling blue and burthened, and how many things conspire to
annoy you. You are blinded by dust, or contaminated with mud, or the
snow slumps, or your feet slip at every step; a child is almost run
over in the street; people jostle rudely; the bell tolls; the
town-crier seems to scream at every corner where you turn; the lady
you particularly admire is talking with vast animation to ----, and
does not even perceive you; a bow thrown away; Mr. Lawkens, the deaf
man, will cross over to speak to you, but cannot hear your answer,
although you have repeated it the third time; a gust of wind blows off
your hat, and a bore holds you by the button to tell you, what you
well knew, the election has gone against your favorite candidate;
while you inwardly exclaim, "misfortunes never come single."

Our pedagogue had a hazy atmosphere around his spirit this day--and
nothing cleared it. The recitations were miserable, and the boys full
of pranks--which boys are heir to; the girls were any thing but
book-intent. The class in chemistry was called, and as Mr. Hall was
performing some experiments on the apparatus, he said,

"Now, when I apply this, you will see that--it wont go," he added, as
the desired result, from some cause, failed.

"Certainly, we see it," smilingly whispered Annie to the next on her
seat.

The sound reached Mr. Hall, already mortified by the failure of the
experiment.

"Miss Hinton," he exclaimed, in a loud, stern tone, "take your books,
and go home."

Annie looked surprised, as well she might, and waited, as if to be
sure she did not misunderstand him. The attention of the school was
roused--there could be no revocation--so the mandate was repeated, and
obeyed.

Poor Hall! his chemical manipulations were no more successful that
day; classes were called, and heard at random. The small scholars
thought "it was a grand time--master did not seem to mind them;" while
older ones wondered at his unwonted humor. Meanwhile his reflections
were any thing but agreeable. How could he have been so harsh for such
a trifle, and ungentlemanly too. All Annie's faults were the mere
exuberance of a joyous spirit; and she was quick to acknowledge and
regret them; and yet he had not expostulated, but abruptly commanded
her to leave. How she must despise him! And she had a great deal of
sensibility; he had seen the color suffuse her face, and t